The good, the bad, and the hungry: how the central brain codes odor valence to facilitate food approach in Drosophila

•Starvation reduces aversive odor sensitivity and increases activity to food odors.•Odors are categorized according to their behavioral relevance in the lateral horn.•Dopamine and Neuropeptide F cells respond to food odors, directing approach/feeding.•State-dependent dopamine modulates mushroom body output neurons coding odor valence.